Police say a Salvation Army kettle was stolen from outside a Sioux Falls Lewis Drug store while the attendant was taking a bathroom break.

Around 4:50 p.m. on Thursday afternoon, surveillance captured a group of people taking the kettle and its stand from outside the drug store at 37th Street and Minnesota Avenue, police spokesman Sam Clemens said. The bell ringer had stepped inside Lewis Drug to use the restroom and found the items missing upon returning, Clemens said.

The kettle and stand were found devoid of cash in a dumpster near 35th Street and Duluth Avenue, Clemens said.

While police are reviewing the surveillance footage, Clemens said they have not identified any specific suspects and no arrests have been made.

Major Thomas Riggs of the Salvation Army said in his 30 years with the organization, he has seen only one other case of a full-size kettle being stolen.

"It's not a normal occurrence," Riggs said, adding that each kettle stand weighs between 60 and 70 pounds. "It's hard to remove."

Because the kettles are locked onto the heavy stands, Riggs said volunteers will sometimes leave them for short periods of time. However, they do eat their lunches near the stands to prevent theft. Volunteers are also told not to engage with thieves, if they do try to steal from the kettles.

"Do not try to keep them from doing it," Riggs said. "We want (the volunteers) to be safe."